Description
Henri Brunier (of Vieux Télégraphe fame) bought this Châteauneuf-du- Pape estate in 1986. The 27 hectares of vineyards are located on a rocky plateau north of the village. They are planted with 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre and the average age of the vines is over 40 years old. The grapes are hand picked and are then fermented for 15-20 days in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine remains in tanks for a further year before being transferred into oak casks where it is aged for a further 8 months. It is bottle unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Notes
The 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Piedlong is the estate’s Grenache dominated cuvee that comes all from the rocky soils of the Piedlong lieu-dit. Vinified with plenty of stems and aged all in foudre, it offers lots of plum, blackberry and bouquet garni like characteristics in a medium to full-bodied, supple, sexy style. It has impressive sweetness of fruit and a forward, delicious style that will be ideal for drinking over the coming 7-8 years. [90 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – October 2015, robertparker.com]